MCC board supports merit-based pay plan

President receives raise

CRYSTAL LAKE – After months of delays and disagreements from trustees, administrators at McHenry County College could be in line for a raise under a new merit-based system.

The McHenry County College Board voiced support for a merit-based raise system for the college's 38 administrators, ending the practice of across-the-board pay bumps that many trustees wanted to change.

Administrators, who received a 1.7 percent cost-of-living increase in July as officials worked to fine tune a performance-based compensation plan, could receive an additional 1.5 percent increase to their base salary or nothing depending on performance evaluations, which are due by Friday.

Tony Miksa, vice president of academic and student affairs, said administrators would be ranked on a point system ranging from one to four in 15 different performance categories and receive an average score.

If the average is below two, those administrators will receive no extra compensation. A score between 2 and the overall average of all 38 administrators equals a 1 percent raise while any employee who scores higher than the overall average will receive a 1.5 percent increase.

The total pot for raises is roughly $134,000.

Miksa said using the overall average score of the 38 administrators prevents supervisors from handing out the highest score possible with hopes of giving employees the biggest raise.

"I really salute what you've done here," board chairman Ron Parrish said. "It's a great job in a short time."

The merit-based system may only be used for this year as a committee is working on a longterm solution that could include 360-degree evaluation, which includes feedback from peers and subordinates, and a more exact formula to make sure every available dollar is distributed.

Under the proposed plan, the left over money can be distributed as a one-time bonus at the president's discretion. Trustee Cynthia Kisser said the longterm solution should distribute all the available money so the higher scoring of two employees both over the average receives more as opposed to the same 1.5 percent.

The merit-based system will only apply to administrators and not college president Vicky Smith, who received a 3 percent raise from the board.